Restoring a Historic Ground Against the Clock
When floodwater rises at Worcestershire County Cricket Club, the impact is immediate and highly visible. Set alongside the River Severn, the ground has long faced the challenges of seasonal flooding, with water levels historically reaching up to 4.7m in some areas.
There has been as many as 30 flood peaks of over 4 metres in the last 79 years, 21 of which since 2020.
With the 2026 cricket season fast approaching, and fixtures scheduled from mid April, the pressure was on. The ground first needed to be made clean, safe, and accessible for contractors and staff to complete essential preparation works, before welcoming players, spectators, and commercial operations back for the new season.
A Stage Viewed Beyond the Ground
Preparing Worcestershire County Cricket Club for the new season is not only about those attending in person. As a professional sporting venue, the ground also serves as a backdrop for televised matches, reaching audiences far beyond the stadium itself.
That means standards have to go beyond functional cleanliness. Every visible area from spectator seating to boundary fencing, hospitality spaces and walkways need to present well on camera, reflecting the professionalism of the club and the wider game.
For SymClean, this meant delivering a finish that was not only safe and ready for use, but also visually consistent across the ground, ensuring it looked its best for local and worldwide viewers.
The Challenge: Flooding on a Scale Few Venues Face
Flooding at New Road is not a one-off event. It is a recurring operational challenge shaped by geography and history. While flooding can be anticipated, the severity and impact are far less predictable, influenced by changing meteorological and environmental conditions that can escalate quickly at any time.
Water from the River Severn can enter the ground rapidly, flowing through surrounding areas and filling key sections of the stadium.
In most cases, floodwater reaches several areas affecting:
- Spectator seating
- Concourse areas
- Bar and hospitality facilities
- Structural elements and access points
- Equipment storage areas.
- Toilet and water management systems
Historical data shows that high-level flood events have become more frequent in recent decades, increasing both the risk and the need for rapid, professional recovery.
For CEO and English Cricket hero Ashley Giles and the leadership team, ensuring the ground could recover quickly ahead of the new season was essential, not only for operations, but for reputation.
Why Flood Cleaning Matters
Flood recovery is not just about removing water, it is about protecting infrastructure, safeguarding health, and restoring usability as quickly as possible.
A delayed or incomplete clean-up can lead to:
- Long-term damage to structures, surfaces and materials.
- Bacterial contamination and hygiene risks.
- Operational delays impacting revenue and in the case of cricket, fixtures.
That’s why a fast, structured, and thorough response is critical for stadium environments.
The SymClean Approach: Coordinated, Scalable Response
We planned the project to deliver a comprehensive clean-up across the entire site.
Working closely with Worcestershire CCC on-site teams, led by Facilities Supervisor Hannah Jones, SymClean implemented a coordinated approach designed to handle both the scale and complexity of the environment.
Over a four-week period, the team:
- Identified and provided the required, robust equipment for large scale flooding restoration.
- Removed standing floodwater from affected areas.
- Carried out deep cleaning across all accessible zones.
- Adapted methods based on waste, materials and contamination levels.
- Worked to a timeline aligned with other contractors for the stadium access and preparation in time for the start of the cricket season.
Delivery on Site: Cleaning Across Every Surface
Floodwater reaches every part of a site, often spreading far beyond visible areas. Recognising this is essential to ensure that all affected surfaces and environments are properly cleaned and restored to prevent unseen ongoing damage.
SymClean carried out cleaning across a wide range of materials and structures, including:
- Stone, concrete and painted walkways
- Metal and brickwork seating structures.
- Plastic spectator seating.
- Brickwork and building structural elements.
- Wooden frames, doors, and fittings.
- Bar areas and commercial spaces.
- Signage.
- Pitch perimeter fencing.
Using a range of specialist equipment, the team was able to:
- Extract residual water efficiently.
- Remove debris and contaminants.
- Restore surfaces without causing further damage.
Careful selection of cleaning chemicals ensured:
- Effective sanitation.
- Protection of sensitive materials.
- Consideration of environmental impact.
Working Against the Season Deadline
With the season beginning in mid April, timing was critical.
The clean-up programme was structured to ensure the ground was safe for public access, visually presentable for spectators, TV broadcasts and operational across all facilities and hospitality areas.
Supporting Long Term Flood Preparedness
Flooding at New Road is now part of operational planning.
The club has implemented preventative measures including modular infrastructure and preparations such as removing doors and windows from vulnerable areas ahead of flood events.
They continually monitor river levels and forecasted weather conditions, but in the face of emergencies like this, they know SymClean are on hand to support the wider strategy.
SymClean provide a fast and reliable response when flooding occurs for both immediate cleaning needs and reducing long-term impact.
The Outcome: A Proud Ground Ready for the Season
Following four weeks of intensive work, the ground was restored and ready for all requirements ahead of the 2026 season start.
For players, staff, and supporters, the focus could return to cricket.
For the club, it meant having facilities ready not just for matchdays, but for consistent daily use. New Road supports a wide range of commercial events, hospitality functions and activities, all of which play an important role in the ongoing financial sustainability of the ground.
For SymClean, it demonstrated what matters most; delivering when it counts.
Ashley Giles, Chief Executive Officer at Worcestershire County Cricket Club, said
“The vital work carried out by Symclean following the most recent floods played an important role in preparing the ground ahead of the new season.
They understood what was required and delivered to a high standard within a challenging timeframe.
It’s pleasing to see that support now develop into a formal partnership.”
Helen Grayer, Head of Opereations at Worcestershire Cricket Club explained
“SymClean quickly demonstrated they understood the scale of the task, the equipment required and the tight timeframe we were working to. That gave us real confidence from the outset.
They were working across a wide range of areas throughout the ground. From spectator seating and concourse spaces to under-stand structures, storage zones, bars, hospitality facilities, and general walkways. They had all the required equipment suitable for each area of the ground and recognising the iconic nature of our ground.
Once they were on site, we were able to leave them to get on with the job, which made a big difference during what is already a very busy period for the club.
SymClean worked well alongside other contractors and this helped to ensure key preparations including new installations, temporary structures, signage and spectator facilities could continue as planned, ahead of the new season.”
Before
After
Before
AfterGary Targett, Director and Operational lead on this project said,
“As a cricket fan, it meant a lot to be able to support Worcestershire County Cricket Club during what was clearly a challenging period.
The ground has such a strong history, so we understood how important it was to get it ready for the start of the season.
The timeframe was tight, but our focus was on delivering a thorough job and taking that pressure away from the club wherever we could. It was great to see how everyone involved pulled together in a positive way to get the ground back on track for the season.
If we’ve been able to give the team the confidence to focus on their own preparations, while we handled the clean-up, then we’ve done our job properly. We’re looking forward to seeing fans back at the ground and enjoying a venue they can rightly be proud of.”
Managing Flood Damage or Large-Scale Site Cleaning?
If your site or facilities face similar challenges; whether through flooding, high footfall, or large-scale operational demands, having the right cleaning partner in place can make all the difference.
Contact us today for a free site survey on 01254 839156 and details of how we can support your needs.
